Box-lidding bench



April 1, 1930. RA. SQUIER BOX LIDDING BENCH Filed April 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 1, 1930. R. A. SQUIER Box LIDDING BENCH Filed April 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 1, 1930 RALPH n" SQUIER, orj'rin'ron, WASHINGTON BOX-LIDDING BENCH Application filed- April 25,

This invention relates to box I lidding benches, more particularly to a device for securely holdingthe lids of fruit and vegetable crates and the like in position upon the crate while the same are being nailed or'otherwise fastened to the crate.

An important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which is adjustable to permit its use with various types of crates,- and which is-so constructed that the application and release of the holding means is greatly facilitated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in an apparatus of this character an arrangement such that a conveyor may be arranged immediately rearwardly of the machine and the lidded boxes-readily discharged from the machine to'this conveyor.

Another object of the invention is the pro duction of a device of this character which may be very readily and chea ly'ma uiaetured, which will be" durable andeflicient in service, and a' general improvementin the art. I

These'and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention'and wherein Figure 1 isa front elevation of a box lidding machine constructed lIIflGCOIdfiIlOG with my invention, portions of the treadle mechanisnibeingbroken away; 5

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof; Figure 3 is aside elevation thereof; Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view therethrough, the table being indicated in its discharging position in dotted lines; and

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional View illustrating the connection of the arrnsto the upper end of the shafts. v

Referring now more particularly to the drawings,'the numerals10 and 11 indicate pairs of front and rear supports arranged upon the four cornersof a rectangle and securely braced to one another by braces 12, 13, 14, and 15.

The front supports 10 are connected at their upper ends by atransversely extending bar which is of greater length thanithe' dis- 1929. Serial No. 358,105.

tance between the supports, the central portion of which is slightly downwardly bowed,

as indicated at 16. The end portions of this bar preferably have flanges 17 abutting the front faces of the front supports and secured thereto. The rear supports, which are considerably taller than the front supports are likewise connected at their upper end, as indicated at 18, this connection preferably comprising one flange of an angle iron, the end portions of which form the rear supports. 7

The braces 13, which connect the front and rear supports 10 and 11 adjacent the upper ends thereof provide a mounting for a shaft 19, which is pivotally engaged by downwardly extending legs 20 formed upon and extendingdownwardly from a box supporting table 21. A spring 22 surrounding shaft 19, has one end thereof fixed, the opposite end thereof secured to one of the legs of the ta ble, and serves to constantly urge rotation of this't'able in a direction such that the forward edge thereof is resting upon the connection 16 between the front leg supports and is supported thereby.

Mounted upon" eachrear support in vertically spaced bearings 23 and snare shafts 25, each shaft 25 having secured thereto a collar 26 which is arranged below the upper bearing 23 thereof and being surrounded between this collar and the lower bear'nq 24 thereof by a spring 27 The upper en-(is of these shaftsh-av'eeael r secures thereto a lid clamping arm" 28, the connection of this arm to the shaft being so arranged that, vertical adjustment of the arm on the shaft may be obtained.

In the present instance, the arr-nis shewn as having 'a hub or attaching portion 29 through which the shaft is sl-idably' directed, and this hub has formed'therethrou'ghan op en- 3'0 inwhic'h is slidabl-y mounted aspring pressed pin' 31. The shaft is formed of a series of vertically spaced sockets 32' in which the inner end of the pin 31 may engage to hold the arm in'vertically adjusted positions;

Each arm 28 is offset, as indicated at 33, so that its free end'or terminal portion overlies the table 21- a'iid extends from front to rearthereof, and the arms are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the overall length of a box lid. If desired, a bracing connection 34 may be provided between arms 28.

Mounted in bearings 35 carried by the rear supports 11 adjacent the lower ends thereof, is a rock shaft 86 having at its ends arms 37, which are connected by links 38 to the collars 26 of their respective shafts 25. Centrally, shaft 36 has secured thereto a treadle 39, the outer end of which is slotted as at 40, for the passage of a ratchet segment ll secured to and depending from the brace 14:, and having ratchet teeth 42 upon its outer face, the shoulders of which are faced downwardly.

.Pivoted to the treadle is a dog 43, for coation with the teeth of this segment, this dog having a furcate tail let between the arms of which extends an operating trip 45, formed upon the rear end of a foot rest 46, the forward end of which is pivoted, as at 47, to the treadle at the outer end thereof. This foot rest or pedal has projecting from one side thereof an arm 48, and the pivot of thispedal is arranged slightly inwardly of the outer end thereof.

In use of the apparatus just described, the rear supports are preferably arranged in close proximity to a conveyor belt, generally designated zit-.49, intended to convey finished work from the machineand from similar machines spaced therealong. The operator places the box to be lidded upon the table 21,places his foot upon the pedal 46, and forces treadle 89 downwardly. This causes an oscillation of shaft 36, resulting in downward movement of shafts 25 and engagement of the arms 28 with a box lid L, which has been previously upwardly,

placed upon the upper face ofthe box. The pressure of the foot is naturally applied with the heel, with the result thatit will tend to cause oscillation of the pedal upwardly and consequent shifting of the dog 43. into engagement with the teeth 42 of the ratchet so that when the arms are fully engaged to hold the box lid, the pedal may be released and the treadle will remain in its adjusted position. The box lid is then secured, and when the securing operation is completed, the operator trips his toe against the arm 48 of the pedal, thus reversing the direction of oscillation of the pedal and disengaging the dog, so that spring 27 may force collar 26 and at the same time swing the treadle 39 to its raised position. Attention is drawn to the fact that at this time the operator does not have to hold his foot against the treadle or does not have to place his foot in any cramped or uncomfortable position in order to effect the release. When the box is released a push thereagainst will cause the table to oscillate and tilt rearwardly, so that the box is discharged therefrom upon conveyor 4:9 to be carried from the machine.

The upper support 18, which connects the rear supports 11, may be conveniently em ployed for the purpose of attaching bracket arms 50, forming a support for the box lids L at a point readily accessible to the operator.

Since the construction may be considerably modified without in any manner departing from the spirit of the invent-ion I do not limit myself to the specific structure hereinbefore set forth, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim i 1. In treadle mechanism for use with box lidding apparatus and in combination with an oscillatable treadle, a ratchet segment associated therewith, a dog pivoted to the treadle for coaction with said segment and having a tail, and a pedal pivoted upon the treadle intermediate its ends and operatively engaging the tail of the dog to oscillate the same, where by the dog is disengaged from the rack upon application of pressure to one end of the pedal and is moved into engagement with the rack upon an application of pressure to the opposite end thereof.

2. In treadle mechanism for use with box lidding apparatus and in combination with an oscillata'ble treadle, a ratchet segment associated therewith, a dog carried by the treadle for coaction with said segment and having a tail, and a pedal pivoted upon the treadle intermediate its ends and operatively engaging the tail of the dog to oscillate the same, whereby the dog is disengaged from the rack upon application of pressure to one end of the pedal and is moved into engagement with the rack upon an application of pressure to the opposite end thereof, the first named end of the pedal having a projecting arm at one side thereof.

3. In treadle mechanism for use with box lidding apparatus and in combination with an oscillatable treadle, a ratchet segment associated therewith, a dog carried by the treadle for coaction with said segment and having atail, and a pedal pivoted upon the treadle intermediate its ends and operatively engaging the tail of the dog to oscillate the same, whereby the dog is disengaged from the rack upon application of pressure to one end of the pedal and is moved into engagement with the rack upon an application of pressure to the opposite end thereof, the pivotal connection of the pedal to the treadle lever being more nearly adjacent the second named than the first named end thereof, whereby the weight of the treadle normally tends to maintain the dog out of engagement with the rack.

4. In treadle mechanism for use with box lidding apparatus and in combination with an oscillatable treadle, a ratchet segment associated therewith, a dog carried by the treadle for coaction with said segment and having a tail, and a pedal pivoted upon the treadle intermediate its ends and operatively engaging the tail of the dog to oscillate the same, whereby the dog is disengaged from the rack upon application of pressure to one end of the pedal and is moved into engagement with the rack upon an application of pressure to the opposite end thereof, the first named end of the pedal having a projecting arm at one side thereof, the pivotal connection of the pedal to the treadle lever being more nearly adjacent the second named than the first named end thereof, whereby the weight of the treadle normally tends to maintain the dog out of engagement with the rack.

5. In a box lidding bench, front and rear supports and connections therebetween, a table, a shaft journaled between the front and rear supports and below the upper ends thereof, legs extending downwardly from the ta- 1 ble and connected at their lower ends to the shaft to support the table for swinging movement from front to rear, a connection between the front supports limiting the forward swinging movement of the table, a spring surrounding the shaft with one'end fixed thereto and the other end secured to one of the legs, the spring constantly urging the table forwardly, and lid holding means shiftably supported from the rear supports and adapted to move downwardly toward the table to clamp the lid of a box supported thereon, said table being swingable between the rear supports to discharge the box therefrom.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. 7

RALPH A. SQUIER. 

